Thornton is a rural village in Bradford,
West Yorkshire; it was mentioned in the Domesday Book of the 11th century,
when it had been laid waste by William the Conqueror's harrying of the
North, punishment for an uprising against the Norman invaders of 1066.

The preserved centre of the village retains
the character of a typical Pennine village, with stone built houses
with stone flagged roofs; the surrounding areas consist of more modern
housing, still isolated from the rest of the city by green fields.

Its elevation, poor soils, isolation from
major transport routes and rainfall of over 34 inches a year limited
farm production, but the presence of coal, iron and sandstone, the development
of turnpike roads and the coming of the railways enabled Thornton to
share in the prosperity generated by the 19th century wool worsted trade;
the increasing use of steam powered mills, at the expense of the former
cottage-industry production methods, concentrated production in the
valleys of the city centre; the Second World War and closure of the
railways eventually relegated Thornton to its present status as a residential
suburb of Bradford.

Thornton viaduct was a railway viaduct
for the GNR line running from Queensbury to Keighley via Thornton; it
was built in an S-shape to allow a smooth access to Thornton station;
the viaduct is now a Grade II listed building; the viaduct was reopened
as part of the Great Northern Railway Trail between Cullingworth and
Queensbury along the track bed in 2008.

Thornton's most famous residents were the
Brontës; the Rev Patrick Brontë became the incumbent of Thornton
Chapel in 1815 and Charlotte, Branwell, Emily and Anne Brontë were
born at 74, Market Street, Thornton before the family moved to Haworth;
the remains of the Church where Patrick preached, known as the Bell
Chapel, can be seen in the restored old graveyard off Thornton Road
opposite the current Church.